Disclaimer:

This is my interpretation of the Marauders life at Hogwarts. I am planning on doing all seven years, but for now this is year one. I hope you enjoy it.

All rights belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 9 - Christmas Vacation

Lily Evans was really excited to see her family again after so long. She hoped her sister, Petunia, had gotten over the whole Hogwarts thing by now. She was dealing with the Gryffindor-Slytherin feud at school. She couldn't deal with a sister feud at home. She just wanted to spend some time with her family and pretend to be normal for a little while. The magical world was amazing and more than she could ever dream of, but sometimes, you just miss home.

On the train she agreed to sit in a compartment with James, Sirius, Remus and Peter as Severus had insisted on staying at Hogwarts over Christmas vacation. Lily had tried multiple times to invite him over for Christmas but he just refused. He said he wasn't ready to deal with his dad yet and his mum understood and would meet up with him in Hogsmeade on Christmas day so he wouldn't be all alone and Lily didn't have to worry about him.

The train started running and Lily caught one last glimpse of Hogwarts before it disappeared in the Scottish hillside.

"Do you think it will still be there when we get back?" James joked.

The train sped along and it was nearing nightfall when it finally came to a stop outside King Cross Station. This is where Lily split from the boys. As all of them were part of magical families, they could just use the floo network, a magical means of transportation using fireplaces, to get home. She walked up to the barrier through which she had first come to Platform 9 ¾ . There a man in a conductor's uniform stood allowing people through when the coast was clear and finally Lily made it outside.

Her family was waiting for her at the other side and although Petunia smiled at her, there was a certain stiffness to it.

James had just entered his living room. Sirius followed closely.

"James, dear!" his mother ran over and hugged him, "I trust the journey was alright. We would've come to fetch you but I was busy organising the room for Sirius." she turned to the boy next to James, "That must be you. Welcome. I'm Mrs. Potter but you can call me Euphemia if you like."

"Mom, I think he'd just stick to Mrs. Potter." James laughed.

"Oh alright. James, go show him his room, it's the guest room next to your room and then make sure to give him a tour of the house." Mrs. Potter instructed her son, "I'll see you two in about an hour's time for dinner."

"Come on." James said and he led Sirius upstairs.

Remus had just arrived home and headed to his bedroom. It was quiet without his friends. Too quiet. They'd had an influence on him the past few months, not always a good influence, but it was odd without them around. He really hoped he would never have to spend too long without them. How was he going to get through summer vacation alone?

"Is the secret safe?" his mother asked where she had appeared at the door to his bedroom.

"Of course mother, no one suspects a thing." Remus told her.

"Good." she said and her voice changed to a more pleasant tone, "So, tell me, how was school? Have you made any new friends yet?" Remus smiled and started telling her everything.

At the same point in time, Lily walked into her bedroom. It was good to be home if only for a while. She just wished Petunia would talk to her. "I'm a Gryffindor." she reminded herself, "I'm brave and courageous. I don't need to wait for 'Tunie to talk to me. I can talk to her." she took a deep breath and headed to her sister's room. Petunia was busy watering her orchids when Lily walked in. Lily looked around. The last time she had seen the room, it was decorated with pictures showing Lily and Petunia's faces. Now, the walls were covered with Petunia's new interest and new friends. There was only one picture of Lily left. It stood behind about a dozen other pictures on Petunia's dresser.

"How has school been?" Lily managed to ask.

"Good." Petunia replied shortly.

They stood around for a minute before Lily tried again, "I miss it, you know? The normality."

"Okay." Petunia replied.

"'Tunie, please. What's wrong? How does going to different schools change so much?" Lily asked and pointed to the room.

"It doesn't change anything." Petunia replied.

"Then why are you still watering your orchid instead of looking at me. Why aren't you asking me questions about Hogwarts? About magic? 'Tunie I want to tell you everything and I want you to tell me everything!" Lily tried.

"Perhaps I have found other interests while you were away. I've grown up while you were gone Lily. I might have been jealous when you left but now, I couldn't care any less about magic." Petunia replied. She still would not face her sister.

"'Tunie, please…"Lily started again.

"Will you please stop calling me that. I'm no longer a little kid. My name is Petunia." Petunia instructed.

"Alright, Petunia, please. Can't we go back to the way things used to be? There isn't so much that's changed. We're still us. We're still sisters." Lily begged.

"I don't want to be sisters with a freak." Petunia stated calmly.

Lily could feel the tears forming behind her eyes. How could her sister be so mean to her? Did it really matter that much? Was Petunia really that petty? She didn't know what else to do so she stormed out of the room and went to her bedroom. She wanted to talk to her sister about everything. She wanted to tell her about those two annoying boys, James and Sirius. She wanted to tell her about the sweet little Peter and the mature Remus and about Kingsley who always knew exactly what those four were doing but was never bothered by it. She wanted to confess how much the feud between Gryffindor and Slytherin was hurting her relationship with Severus and she wanted to talk about how things are mysteriously disappearing around school and how funny classes have become because Professors need to improvise. But she couldn't. Her sister didn't want to talk to her. She couldn't tell her anything. She was all alone. For the first time since she'd left Hogwarts she wanted nothing more than to go back there and see all her friends. She longed to talk to those annoying boys and to Alice and Marlene and all her friends at Hogwarts. Now she understood what it was like to be torn between two worlds. Lily Evans understood what it meant to live a double life, not quite fitting in in either.

By the time Christmas day arrived Lily had still not made up with her sister and she accepted that she may never be able to. They were different, that was true. She had to accept it. However, on Christmas morning, Petunia ran into her room like she used to before magic became part of their lives. She jumped onto Lily's bed shaking her awake.

"Mum and Dad says I'm not allowed to open presents without you! Come on!" Petunia shook her sister while giggling with excitement.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Lily said half awake, rolled over and started to drift off again. The next moment, Petunia had grabbed her by the hand and was pulling her out of bed and out of the room. Lily smiled, 'Maybe things aren't so different.' she thought.

James and Sirius stayed up all night waiting for Christmas day. "I hope I get a new broom." James said over and over again that night and Sirius just smiled at his friend. He wasn't expecting anything really. He didn't think his parents would send him anything and if they did it'd probably arrive at Hogwarts. When James invited him to stay, he hadn't even bothered informing his parents. He liked being independent and not being caught in the same net as the rest of his family. He didn't share James' excitement for Christmas day but he stayed up with him nevertheless, counting down the hours 'till Christmas morning. He and James stared out the window as the sun started rising and when the sun was fully visible in the sky, James couldn't wait any longer. He raced down the stairs and didn't even stop for breakfast. When he arrived in the living room he hadn't expected to see his parents already sitting there.

"Took you long enough." his mother commented.

"We'd begun wondering whether or not you were dead." his father joked.

"Merry Christmas!" James hugged both his parents and went to sit down beside the tree where he started taking invoice of the presents underneath.

James had already grabbed one before his mother said, "Shouldn't you wait for Sirius?"

"I don't think he's coming. He's not expecting any gifts from his family." James answered.

"Even if his family didn't send him anything, that doesn't mean there aren't any surprises for him." James' mother said.

"Go fetch him." his father instructed.

James jumped up and a minute later he had returned with Sirius who was trying hard to keep a smile on his face, "Merry Christmas Mr. and Mrs. Potter."

"Merry Christmas Sirius." James' mother smiled, "Now, James, you're allowed to open up your gifts and Sirius," she said, "I may have spotted a few under there with your name on."

Both boys had received multiple types of candy from Mr. and Mrs. Potter. Lily had sent Sirius a muggle book on different dog breeds and James a muggle magic kit. Peter had sent them both hand-knitted beanies and Remus sent them both a homework planner. James was very excited when he saw that his parents had indeed gotten him a new broom like he hoped. He couldn't wait to try out for the Quidditch team next year. Sirius, on the other hand was shocked to see that his family had also sent him a gift and was disappointed to find a book on the most ancient and noble house of Black. He may be the black sheep of the family but this gift clearly sent a message that his parents still expected him to keep the bloodline pure. He dumped the book and immediately started looking at the muggle book Lily had sent him. It was quite funny actually, he was named after the dogstar and Lily sent him a book on different dog breeds and how to care for them. Lily would fit right in with them if she wanted to one day. In fact, Sirius suspected she had a wicked sense of humor, just like them.

A few more days of peace and joy passed and eventually Christmas vacation came to an end and it was time to go back to Hogwarts.